USF offer would allow former NBA guard to complete his college degree

Three weeks after media outlets reported he was leaving high school coaching after one season to become a student-manager at USF, former NBA guard Chucky Atkins is still working with his team at Evans while weighing that option.

"A lot has been said and written about that possibly happening, but it's not final," Atkins said after the Trojans pulled out a close summer league basketball win over Wekiva in the Evans gym on Wednesday night. "I still have to consider all the pros and cons.

"Right now, nothing has changed. I have these kids that I'm dedicated to. I'm the coach at Evans."

Atkins let his father and assistant coach James Harper work from the bench area – as he often does in informal offseason play – while he mostly sat at one end of the court. But he was vocally involved in almost every possession, and often popped up from his seat to either join the squad in time outs or shout out instructions to an individual player.

"I didn't know I would enjoy coaching as much as I do," he said.

Now, he said he must decide if running his own program at the high school where he was a star player beats an opportunity that would allow him to finish his undergraduate degree and be in position to become a paid college or pro coach. He must earn a degree to be a full-time college assistant.

Evans is due to return every player from a team that was 20-8 and Class 7A state runner-up in Atkins' debut season as a head coach. The Trojans had zero seniors after USF signee Dre Clayton suffered an early-season Achilles tendon tear.

"As coaches and players, we put in a lot of hard work," Atkins said. "I want to see it manifest itself into a state championship. For these kids."

But he acknowledged he also has higher aspirations.

"I really want to perfect my craft as a coach. Why wouldn't I be interested in taking it to the highest levels? I feel like I can relate to high school players, college players, pro players."

Sports talk radio host David Baumann of 1080 AM in Orlando first reported on June 1 that Atkins is set to return to USF – where he starred in the mid-1990s – to be a student coach.

The Tampa Bay Times quoted USF coach Stan Heath on June 4 saying, "It's certainly something I hope works out. He can accomplish what he needs to and really help our basketball team."

Heath went on to say "hopefully" Atkins will enroll for Summer B classes, which start on July 1.

Atkins said he has not committed to USF or told Evans administrators he is leaving because he is not yet certain it would be his best move. He mentioned the option of completing his degree online.

"I do want to get my degree," Atkins said. "That's important. I could finish in two semesters and I know that would be very beneficial. But I have to also look at what I have a year down the road. There is no guarantee there is going to be a (college) job for me at that point in time.

"Do I want to give up what I have? I'm settled in here. My guys love me. I love the kids. I really like what's going on at this school.

"There's a lot of things to weigh out. I'll look at everything over the next month or so and the decision will make itself."